rough-rider
(ˈrʌfˌraɪdə(r))
Also Sc. rouch-rider.
[rough a.]
1. a. A horse-breaker.
| 1733 J. Bramston Man of Taste 17, I would with Jockies from Newmarket dine, And to Rough-riders give my choicest wine. 1791 Wolcot (P. Pindar) Rights of Kings Wks. 1812 II. 392 That every Subject ought to wear a Saddle O'er which those great Rough-Riders, Kings may straddle. 1804 Sporting Mag. XXIII. 288 Advised him to send the horse to be broke in by a rough-rider. 1857 Bagehot Biogr. Studies 63 You might as fitly employ some delicate lady as a rough-rider. 1887 Sir R. H. Roberts In the Shires i. 11 There, too, is..the rough-rider, in a pair of old brown leather breeches. |
b. Mil. (See quot. 1853.)
| 1802 James Milit. Dict., Rough Riders are the assistants of the riding master, and one should always be appointed to each troop. 1847 Alb. Smith Chr. Tadpole xxxvii, I've ridden colts that have thrown all the best rough-riders in the Blues. 1853 Stocqueler Mil. Encycl. 236/2 Rough Rider, a non-commissioned officer in the cavalry regiments, whose business it is to break in refractory horses, and assist the riding-master when required. 1876 Voyle & Stevenson Milit. Dict. 353/1. |
2. a. A horseman of a rough type; one engaged in rough work or who can ride an unbroken horse; also Sc., a circus-rider. Also fig.
| 1828 Scott F.M. Perth xvi, Thou shalt answer the challenge, as good right thou hast, having had injury from this rough-rider. 1860 Emerson Cond. Life ii. (1861) 40 These rough riders,—legislators in shirt-sleeves. 1888 Roosevelt in Cent. Mag. Feb. 505/2 The rough-rider of the plains, the hero of rope and revolver. 1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Col. Reformer (1891) 94 A matchless rough-rider, and wellnigh impossible to be thrown. 1977 T. Allbeury Man with President's Mind vi. 62 At the Pentagon end Langham's going to need a man who grinds away diplomatically. Not a rough-rider. |
b. Mil. An irregular cavalryman.
| 1884 Manch. Exam. 30 Oct. 5/5 The Cape roughriders will be more suitable for this employment than the regular troopers. 1891 Moullin Surg. i. v. 126 Cavalry soldiers and rough-riders. 1899 Roosevelt in Scribner's Mag. XXX. 7/1 When finally the Generals of Division and Brigade began to write in formal communications about our regiment as the ‘Rough Riders’, we adopted the term ourselves. |